Smith & Nephew launches industry's only low-profile screw with "captured" head technology

LONDON, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business today announces the launch of the TRIGEN™ Low-Profile Screw – the only truly "captured" head, low-profile screw on the market. Patented by Smith & Nephew, "captured" screws feature heads with internal threads that securely attach the screws to the screwdriver – potentially removing the risk of a screw being lost during surgery. Surgeons interested in learning more about the TRIGEN Low-Profile Screw are invited to visit the Smith & Nephew booth (^#606) at this week's Orthopaedic Trauma Association meeting in Minneapolis.

Because low-profile screw heads sit closer to the surface of the bone, they can potentially reduce irritation to the surrounding soft tissue. With the introduction of the TRIGEN Low-profile screw, surgeons are now able to combine the patient-friendly aspects of a lower profile head with the efficiency and security of a captured screw.

"The new TRIGEN Low-Profile screws are the best of three worlds," says Dr. William Ricci, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma Service at Washington University School of Medicine. "They are low profile, they provide excellent feel related to when the screw head is down to bone, and they retain the all-important capture feature."

Available in 2.5 mm increments to offer surgeons the array of screw lengths they demand, the new screws also feature a unique fluted design that helps surgeons "feel" when the screw is fully seated. 

"We have virtually reinvented the low-profile screw," explains Gaurav Agarwal, DSVP and General Manager for Smith & Nephew's Advanced Surgical Devices Division. "Within this one screw, our commitment to improving surgical outcomes for both patients and surgeons is on full display."

The TRIGEN Low-Profile Screw is designed for use with the entire TRIGEN™ System, a full portfolio of nailing options for long bones that addresses lower-extremity fractures. Consisting of three patented nail designs, the TRIGEN System's unique "working channel" approach allows for a simplified procedure, a smaller incision, enhanced soft tissue management and improved access to the bone.

The new low-profile screws can also be used with Smith & Nephew's TRIGEN™ SURESHOT™ Distal Targeting System. The SURESHOT System is the first and only, virtual, real-time imaging system that allows surgeons to distally lock screws without the use of fluoroscopy. This allows for greater accuracy, easier alignment and less radiation exposure for the patient, surgeon and surgical staff in the operating room.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma, Smith & Nephew has almost 11,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2011 were nearly $4.3 billion.  Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

Forward-looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payors and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in integrating acquired businesses, and disruption that may result from changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business or competitive nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations.

Trademark of Smith & Nephew.  Registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED